LNA Spokesperson Mismary publishes video shows mercenaries transfer into Libya, says Turkey ‘support terrorism’

CAIRO – 24 July 2020: Libya's National Army spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismary posted a video on his twitter official account, Friday showing a group of new Syrian-national mercenaries on board of Libyan Afriqiyah Airways flight heading to Misurata.

“Turkey is transferring new batches of Syrian mercenaries to Libya’s Misurata in a sever challenge to the international de-escalation demands and cease fire” Mismary tweeted, adding that Ankara is breaching the international and Arab decrees which prevent transferring mercenaries and fighters into Libya.

“Turkey supports terrorism and crime in Libya. It works on achieving its dream of controlling Libya and its capabilities and wealth” Mismary said, concluding “the world is watching, Turkey expands”.

على متن احدى طائرات شركة الافريقية الليبية
تركيا تنقل دفعات جديدة من المرتزقة السوريين لمدينة مصراتة الليبية في تحدي صارخ للمطالب الدولية للتهدئة ووقف النار وكذلك يعد ما تقوم به انقرة خرق للقرارات العربية والدولية التي تمنع نقل المرتزقة والمقاتلين الاجانب إلى ليبيا . pic.twitter.com/bI1UnOLaqt

— الناطق باسم القائد العام للجيش الليبي (@Spokesman_LNA) July 24, 2020

On July 9, Mismary said that total number of mercenaries Turkey transferred into Libya reached 17,000 terrorists, including 1,000 mercenaries transferred just during one week in July.

He added in statements to dmc privet channel, that Turkey dose not announce its military losses in Libya; However, the army is always ready to stop all Turkish attacks.

Mismary noted that western Sirte is still under control of the Libyan National Army, However, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ‘is trying to escalate the situation in Libya by sending mercenaries, weapons and maritime vessels.

In another statement to Sada al-Balad channel, Mismary stressed that ‘Erdogan dreams by controlling over the Libyan oil will never happen.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned earlier July that foreign interference in Libya’s war has reached “unprecedented levels”. He urged key players and their backers to unblock the political stalemate and agree to a cease-fire and peace talks.

Guterres described the situation in Libya as ‘gloomy’ according to AP, noting that between April 1 and June 30 there were at least 102 civilian deaths and 254 civilians wounded in Libya, “a 172% increase compared to the first quarter of 2020.”

In June 6, Egypt’s president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi announced ‘Cairo declaration’ to push for a ceasefire in the war-torn country. The initiative was widely welcomed as a step to end the political conflict.

During a phone call with president Sisi June 10, U.S. president Trump welcomed the Egyptian efforts aiming at achieving political stability for the Libyan crises and to end the violent acts along with meeting the Libyans’ wishes and demands to live in peace and stability, Presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady stated.

British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly said on Sunday that the UK welcomes efforts by Egypt to encourage eastern Libyan leaders to support a ceasefire, but this must have a UN backing.

In a press release, the British Embassy in Cairo said that the Libyan National Army and the Government of National Accord need to engage urgently in the UN’s 5+5 talks, adding that this is the only path to an inclusive solution for the Libyan crisis.